Cleaning off Seagull mess?

hyndlandguy · 19 July 2021, 18:58

Hi all,

So my RIB is in a harbour off N. Cornwall with no facilities for a few weeks.

The seagulls etc are brutal. I've been using an 8L hand pressure washer daily to try and keep on top of it using fresh water I hand carry down to the harbour, but its not really working and I am losing the battle.

Considering using a 12v pressure washer with sea water pulled from the harbour instead to try and keep her clean. Will this do more harm than good using sea water and brush with the pressure washer. She will get a full wash / valet when back in the boat yard early August so this is a temporary fix.

I have 12v connections on the boat, plus she has a T-Top that rules out a cover. Comments and thoughts appreciated.

paulbrown22 · 19 July 2021, 21:38

Are the seagulls actually sitting on the boat and leaving the mess? If so can you make up some scaring devices to try and convince them to go and sit on another boat instead?

Failing that, there should be no reason a T-Top prevents having a cover - my 9m Ribtec had a beautiful custom cover with zips and buckles to fit perfectly around the T-top framing.

rik_elliott · 20 July 2021, 07:42

Worx do a neat 21v battery jet washer that can run off a bucket. Reviews are mixed but I've always found ours pretty good for small jobs.

My friend has a hard boat with a live bait well, and he used to use the seawater from that with a stiff brush to wash down his deck after a big trip so no harm in using seawater to clean.

Agree that prevention will be best - look at getting some bird scarers if you can, or some sort of cover if possible (even a tarp tied down will keep the worst off)

Pikey Dave · 20 July 2021, 09:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulbrown22

Are the seagulls actually shitting on the boat and leaving the mess? .

I think that’s what he said[emoji6]

willk · 20 July 2021, 10:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I think that’s what he said[emoji6]

I hate to be picky Pikey, but I'm not seeing it?

He did refer to "mess" - so I suppose it depends on your interpretation of "mess". I know that dog mess is quite specific, but then kids leave a mess too and one would be hopeful that they aren't the same. Maybe the seagulls just refuse to straighten up the lines and buoys after a rest on yer man's RIB.

Maximus · 20 July 2021, 11:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by hyndlandguy

Hi all,

So my RIB is in a harbour off N. Cornwall with no facilities for a few weeks.

The seagulls etc are brutal. I've been using an 8L hand pressure washer daily to try and keep on top of it using fresh water I hand carry down to the harbour, but its not really working and I am losing the battle.

Considering using a 12v pressure washer with sea water pulled from the harbour instead to try and keep her clean. Will this do more harm than good using sea water and brush with the pressure washer. She will get a full wash / valet when back in the boat yard early August so this is a temporary fix.

I have 12v connections on the boat, plus she has a T-Top that rules out a cover. Comments and thoughts appreciated.

It's a perfect storm with the weather as it is any Seagul "activity" will soon bake on and can sometimes leave perminant marks depending on the surface.
Salt water won't hurt.. especially short term...a cheap Tarp cover will help...(if it's not too windy) draped over a rope tied from A-frame to top of consul and then to Bow...and secured on lifelines or similar.
As will liberal coatings of Areosoace 303/Armour-All ect.ect which will help build a barrier.
You could try swapping you're location too....often they congregate in certain areas for ease of access to food sources.....Vantage points scoping out unwary Holiday makers with food/ice creams ect

If it's REALLY BAD and doing damage!.. the only real alternative is launching and recovering each time you use it...
Which is what I would probably do

Brinormeg · 20 July 2021, 12:26

Was a thread not long ago about it. But a bit like protecting your prize strawberry plants

Outwith a massive net or in this case cover, what ever method you use will only work for a short time and you've got to keep changing it up..

There is a way with thin fishing line and cds tied to them that works which they hate to land on, but like a shotgun, that very effective method is frowned on!

You could try a couple of kids windmills to create movement and a scarecrow.

The dummy owl or bird of prey is popular. but some say its got to be quite high above the birds to really work because instinct tells them that's where they get attacked from.

Recently on a YouTube video of Jim Davidsons boat he had a snake on his for keeping them off.

My favourite one is you can always just throw chips over the other boats well away from yours

hyndlandguy · 20 July 2021, 12:43

Thanks for the input guys, and yes just for clarity, mess = shit, and shit of biblical proportions.

I do take my boat out and fully clean etc 2 or three times a season, but I am a 2 hour motor from the recovery yard, so needed a cleaning solution on site at my local harbour.

I have just taken the tip to get a 12v pressure washer which I will use with sea water. Not ideal I know, but carting fresh water down from the tap to the boat not an option and there are no taps at the harbour to keep filling the bucket.

I guess cleaning with sea water is better than leaving the shit baking in the sun, so will give pressure washing with a brush a go. Thanks for your comments.

paulbrown22 · 20 July 2021, 14:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I think that’s what he said[emoji6]

No comment!